Chapter ii. contains a tradition as to _Maori_ Cosmogony more particular

in some details than I have ever met with elsewhere. My informant had been educated to become a _tohunga_; but had afterwards become a professing Christian. The narrative took place at night unknown to any of his people, and under promise that I would not read what I wrote to any of his people. When after some years I re-visited New Zealand, I learnt that he had died soon after I left, and that his death was attributed to the anger of the _Atua_ of his family due to his having, as they expressed it, trampled on the _tapu_ by making _noa_ or public things sacred—he having himself confessed what he no doubt believed to be the cause of his illness.

In Appendix will be found a list of _Maori_ words expressing relationship. It will be observed that where we employ definite words for ‘father’ and ‘brother’ the _Maori_ use words having a more comprehensive meaning, like our word ‘cousin’: hence when either of the words _matua_, &c., are used, to ascertain the actual degree of relationship some additional explanatory words must be added, as would be necessary when we use the general term cousin.

A short vocabulary of _Maori_ words unavoidably introduced in the following pages, which require explanation not to be found in any published dictionary, are also printed in the Appendix,—as well as a few selected _karakia_ in the original _Maori_, with reference to pages where their translations appear, as a matter of interest to some persons.

_Auckland, January, 1882._

CONTENTS.

───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── PAGE _Chap. i._—Primitive Religion and Mythology. Aryans and 1 Polynesians _Chap. ii._—Maori Cosmogony and Mythology 10 _Chap. iii._—Religious Rites of the Maori 25 _Chap. iv._ „ „ „ 38 _Chap. v._—The Maori Chief of Olden Time 51 _Chap. vi._—Claiming and Naming Land 68 _Chap. vii._—The Maori Land Tenure 88 ————— APPENDIX. Terms of _Maori_ Relationship 106 Explanation of some _Maori_ words occurring in 107 following pages Karakia Maori 109 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

ERRATA

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── p. 8 for “Pendora” read “Pandora.” p. 21 „ “Herekeke” „ “Harakeke.” p. 11 „ “Whananga” „ “Wananga.” p. 24 „ „ „ „ p. 28 „ “manumea” „ “Manumea.” p. 90 „ “and” „ “land.” p. 96 „ “conquerers” „ “conquerors.” ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

PRIMITIVE RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY.